Most of our regular running clothes and gear (shoes, hats, etc) has some kind of reflective pieces on it.  However, these are usually small stripes or patches, not nearly enough to run in the dark – additional items are necessary in order to be safe. There are suspenders, vests, jackets and also some very light pieces to use for warm weather runs.  Brooks, Nike, Amphipod and most major running brands make reflective clothing options.

Nike, Brooks and Nathan sleeveless reflective vests

Brooks reflective vest

     

Reflective suspenders by Amphipod

Brooks reflective jacket

Be safe – when running in the dark, wear some type of reflective wear.  Also, follow all safety suggestions – if in the road, run against traffic, don’t use headphones, be aware and leave your route at home for someone to know where you are.

In order to see while running in the dark, run in well lit areas or with a headlamp or hand carry a small flashlight.

The headlamps can be purchased at running stores or outdoor activity stores like REI.  I have a headlamp made by Black Diamond and it is adjustable for close and far ranges.  I wear it around my head on top of my hat or visor.  It works great.

Here's the adjustable headlamp by Black Diamond

Bottom line – be safe always.

One that I’ve used for years is the Road ID.  There are many different styles of Road IDs.  I’ve seen the wrist

and ankle IDs and I’ve noticed on their website options for many features that weren’t available when I purchased my Road ID.  I have used the shoe pouch for years. I prefer the shoe pouch because I can carry not only my ID, but also some cash and a credit card in case I want to stop while I’m out on the roads. You don’t feel the shoe pouch while you are exercising and really don’t even remember you have it on your shoe until you need it.  The Road ID shoe pouch fits on the top of one of your shoes – it uses a velcro band that slips under your laces and back over the top.  You choose what you want to carry in it and it actually has room for a lot of stuff.  When you order it, you can have engraved on a small metal band the information you choose; your name, the name of your emergency contacts, their phone numbers, and any personal health information you might want to include.

I’ve had the same Road ID for years and just move it to new shoes when I get them.   It’s been through rain, snow, sleet, puddles, sand, mud, and thousands of miles.  Sometimes I wipe it off if it’s muddy and I’m good to go.  My emergency information, cash, blank check, and credit card are not only safe but stay protected and dry in the pouch.

I run wherever I travel, so having a current ID and emergency information on me is important.  But having emergency information on you even in your own neighborhood is necessary.  Check out the Road ID options at www.roadid.com.  

My only piece of team support for this year's Super Bowl

Yes, I understand it’s Super Bowl Sunday and I personally enjoy this day.  I think I really enjoy it because it is such a huge event filled with lots of hoopla.

That being said, I am back on track with my 2012 goals as of yesterday.  Yes!  Three weeks ago we had a snowstorm here in the Pacific Northwest which, if you live or have ever lived in this area you will understand, regular living stops.  We are trapped by closed roads and impossible hills because of the serious lack of getting the roads ready for a storm they know is coming days in advance.  Never will understand that, but it is what it is.  Anyway, I could ride my bike on the trainer and use my hand weights at home to substitute for my usual gym classes and running.

Then, the following week I was blessed with my first grandchild and my training came to almost a halt as I got to help with and hold this new bundle of joy.  Wow what a sweet blessing.

This past week I got out early and was able to get a few runs in, went to Body Pump classes and felt alive again!  Then, yesterday, I ran long.  The weather was perfect and I was in my groove.  At one point Sugar Magnolia by the Grateful Dead came on my iPod and normally I wouldn’t think it was such a good song, but it IS great to run to.  You know you’ve been part of the running community a long time when you are out randomly running on a long trail and see people you know.  Fun!

Back to goals – so today before the snacks and meatball sandwiches begin, I get to go to the gym for a weight workout and spin class.  All is good in my world of goals again.  I believe that the 2 spring marathons I’ve signed up for will happen and I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other to get there.  That’s the thing with goals.  None of us can predict what might happen, but we can adjust, keep them in the back of our minds or posted on our bathroom mirrors, and do what we can do when we can.  If we do the training, we can run the race.

Hope you are doing well with your 2012 goals!

Here's my 2012 journal

Each New Year’s I get a new journal for the year to list my goals, track my progress, write small notes about successes and struggles and any other items I think I can use.  It’s all a learning process and it’s easy to forget what went right and what we were challenged by, so writing them down can be our memory and guide us to achieve our goals.

We’re set up at Artemis to help you accomplish your fitness goals.  Let us know how we can help you.  Send us an email with your goals and questions – Linda@Artemisfitness.com.

I have some lofty goals for 2012 and have started out full speed ahead – I am cautious that I maintain forward momentum, so all my runs, spin classes, swims and body pump classes are calendared out at least a month in ahead.  My runs are out several months in anticipation of my marathons and the body pump classes are routine for me so the spin and swims are the newbies and kind of unknowns right now.  I want to not only run a few marathons, (signed up for 3 so far) but also get better at biking and swimming.  I’ve decided I need a couple of swim lessons to get faster and stronger, so that’s imbedded in my goals with the ending goal of a Half Ironman.  This is ambitious for me, but very achievable if I do the training.  If I do the training and face all my internal fears of not being fast enough, I should be fine.

What are your plans?  I’d love to know.

Every year on New Year’s Eve, we sit down in front of the fireplace with our journals; look over last year’s written goals and reflect on the many events, life changes, accomplishments, etc. that have transpired.  (It’s always fun to read through the wonderful things we did even without planning for them.)  Then, with those in mind we set down our new goals and write down the details to navigate those through the next twelve months.

I pull out race calendars and put in the races I’ve already signed up for and shop  for new ones. Sometimes I pencil in the times for training in between.  I always like to throw in a couple of ambitious goals just to keep it fresh and challenging.  This year I plan to add serious time for swimming and biking to my usual running calendar.  Possibly a yoga practice would be good…

I love goals, but I also appreciate the random, oh, why not do this?  The goals are the map, the extra accomplishments are the welcomed detours.  Like this year, after our summer travel, I used Body Pump classes for my upper body strength conditioning.  Before I knew it, I had gone twice a week for the past 15 weeks except for 2 Thursdays (one for the New York Marathon travel and the other for Thanksgiving) now it’s a habit and I try to schedule nothing that gets in the way of those classes.  I love them and they work.  It’s like running-keep the mileage higher and you can sign up for longer races whenever you like.

Of course, my goal setting includes more than just exercise.  I write down family fun and activities we’d like to do, things I’d like to learn, classes I’d like to take and teach, my focus on nutrition, spiritual practices, etc.  The sky is the limit – but if I write them down, they have a better chance of happening!

As my playing and coaching careers have grown with time, I have come to the conclusion that sport is one thing more than it is anything else.  Sport is self expression; it is art not unlike sculpture, painting or dance.  In short it is a rich opportunity for people to express themselves.

It is a way to project a person’s emotions, style and value on whatever canvas one chooses – from team sports to the solitary song of endurance that comes with ironman racing and marathoning.

The medium is movement.

The result is beauty.

Muhammad Ali standing over Ernie Terrel, Pre flashing around a curve, or Peyton Manning roping a forty yard out, are no less evocative or revealing than the experience one gets viewing Michaelangelo’s David or the paintings of the Renaissance.  They are beautifully crafted comments on what it means to be human and alive in space.

Athletes are creators in the physical realm and they produce works that are monumental, inspirational and educative in their medium.  Andre Malraux once said, “art is a revolt against fate.”  Athletes teach us that – for today – we are alive.  It is ironic that great athletic movements are held statically in our minds as a timeless commentary.

When you are lacing up your running shoes, remember the words of artist Paul Strand, “The artist’s world is limitless.  It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away.  It is always on his doorstep.”  So get out and create today’s masterpiece.

by

Jim McGuire

How many people sign up, does it sell out, or is there day of race sign up?  This will give you an idea of it’s size.  Check out the route details – do you like to run in the woods, country roads, city streets or small town side streets?

Find out everything you can about the elevation details.  Love hills?  Find one that fits that, prefer flat and fast – go for those.  If it’s in high elevations, be sure you are ready for that! Which ever you choose, train for those circumstances.

Is the race well supported?  How many and where are the water/power drink stations or do you have to carry your own?

What’s the average temperature during that race?  Get ready for it, acclimatize yourself so you are ready.  If it’s usually hot and humid, train for that – colder, try to train for that.

Big city?  Small, rural?  Along the coast?  Out in the country?  

It’s a long way to run and if you are running anywhere but a very large city, some of it will be in rather industrial areas or in the country.

If crowd support is important to you, go for the big races, if it isn’t and you will be listening to your own music or be lost in your own thoughts, choose a smaller race.  If you’ve never been to the city before and it’s a destination race for you, there isn’t a better way to see a city than to run it!

It’s your race – shop it, choose it, train for it, run and enjoy it!

The city was beautiful and welcomed us all for a wonderful race.  Sponsored by Nike and Tiffany, who gave us all a surprise gift at the end of the race. We enjoyed touring Nike Town and having dinner out together.

San Francisco

Once we were all in San Francisco, we went to the Expo, Niketown and then out for a pasta dinner.

At the end, we were greeted by San Francisco fighters who handed out our ‘medals.’

Here’s Sara with her Tiffany necklace after the race!